Posted by Katherine St Asaph on 07/16/2011 at 12:11 PM News

The Popdust Files: divorce, jennifer lopez

There was always something off about Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s marriage, at least if you believed the news. (Crapshoot.) So the couple’s announcement Friday that they were splitting is much less than a surprise than it could have been, even if you don’t factor in Lopez’s eventful romantic history.

Said Lopez’s publicist: “We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. “We have come to amicable conclusion on all matters. It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time.”

Noted. All gossip stops here–now what does this mean for music? Too early to tell, but we’ll try: the couple’s proposed reality show Q’Viva! The Chosen, sort of like an American Idol for Latin music, is a lot less likely to happen. As far as what the split means for promising things, the rumor factory about Lopez returning or not returning to American Idol judging was cranking for weeks before this, so all this could possibly do is exacerbate tensions that were already at least manufactured.

And as for her comeback? It owes a lot more to “Lambada” and Pitbull than anything Anthony ever did, so barring further bad news, it really depends more on how follow-up singles “I’m Into You” and “Papi” do. As some comebacks have taught us, bad news on the personal front doesn’t necessarily translate into bad news for one’s career. Sometimes good music can come of it! We’d love to hear more songs like this: